Search results

This study aims to investigate the effect of process parameters of blow room machines on openness degree and quality of cotton tufts in a blow room.

For this purpose, an experimental Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used, and the process parameters were the angles of the grid bars underneath the opening rollers of CVT3 beaters and the distance between feed roller of the first opening roller of CVT3.

It was found that the cotton tuft openness increased by increasing the angles of grid bars and by decreasing the distance between the feed roller and first opening roller on CVT3 beater. Further, the optimization procedure showed that an optimum value of cotton tuft openness (in laser method) was determined for specific levels of the process parameters.

The originality of this investigation is that it showed the individual effects and interactions of the most important factors in two tufting machines instead of only one machine. This study is important because it helps cotton yarn spinners to improve the quality of the final yarns by optimizing the levels of tuft openness which in turn improves fiber cleaning.

The aim of this chapter is to develop a strong research base for the academia and the industry to understand the importance of data analytics in International Trade. This chapter focuses on the case of cotton trade from India and explores different methodologies developed by the World Bank and International Trade Center to analyze the Big Data available on export and import. Through Big Data analysis, this chapter attempts to find out the export performance, market demand, export potential, and attractive markets for Indian cotton. This chapter also explores the trade competitiveness of Indian cotton over the years. The data through appropriate analysis can address some simple yet complicated questions in trade like what export potential the commodity holds, if the commodity is competitive or not in international market, what are new markets to look up to, and other similar questions. In other words, this information could make huge difference in decision-making of traders and policymakers directly, and farmers indirectly.

Recent research has highlighted limited explicit knowledge of a company’s strategy on the part of its employees. The concept of Open Strategy has emerged as a promising approach to address and enhance knowledge and understanding of an organization’s strategy across all hierarchical levels. However, empirical investigations of the relationship between the degree of openness in a strategy process and employees’ strategy knowledge remain scarce. This study aims to fill this gap.

We conducted an online survey of individuals from various organizations, measuring the degree of openness of their strategy process and using regression analysis to determine the impact on strategy knowledge among the respondents. We operationalized strategy knowledge using two concepts. The first concept encompassed general knowledge of the employer’s strategy, mission, and vision. The second concept measured strategy knowledge in a more concrete manner by assessing factors such as the company’s markets, how it positions itself and its economic logic.

Our findings indicate that regardless of the level of hierarchy, the degree of openness has a strong positive effect on strategy knowledge. However, this effect is smaller when specific aspects of strategy knowledge are assessed compared to a general understanding of strategy. Our results highlight the potential of Open Strategy as an effective approach to enhancing employees’ knowledge of the employer’s strategy.

Our research demonstrates that the degree of openness in strategy processes significantly enhances strategy knowledge, thereby laying the groundwork for effective strategy implementation. The results highlight the importance of cultivating a culture of transparency, participation and inclusion of employees as well as ongoing communication to effectively integrate strategy into organizational practices. We offer practical implications for managers striving to optimize their strategic management processes.

The issue of export instability exerts an enduring fascination for economists with an interest in the area of economic development. Over several decades a voluminous literature has emerged embracing debates on the domestic consequences and on the causes of export instability. The purpose here is to examine these debates and an attempt is made to set out different theoretical stances, to classify and examine empirical findings, and to indicate the directions in which the debates have moved. Such a statement of a review article's purpose is, of course, incomplete without more specific delineation of the boundaries within which the general objectives are pursued. Here that delineation has three facets.

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the personality characteristics of mentors.

The five factor model of personality was used to examine relationships between personality and participation as a mentor. A sample of 194 practicing veterinarians were surveyed on the five factor model of personality and a scale assessing their participation as a mentor across junior professionals, interns and high school students.

Results indicated that extroversion, conscientiousness, and openness to experience were positively correlated with participation as a mentor. Personality traits also explained significant variance in participation as a mentor after controlling for prior experience with a mentor. These results suggest that participation as a mentor could be influenced to some degree by personality. Mentoring involves active engagement in an environment requiring social, task, and idea‐related capabilities, thus individuals who are extroverted, conscientious, and open to experience would likely feel more comfortable.

The study was only a survey study with data gathered from a single source, so any causal inferences are limited.

If individuals volunteer for mentoring based primarily on personality tendencies, then it is possible that many talented employees would not be attracted to a mentoring situation due to their personalities. In order to have the best mentors, organizations might have to develop mechanisms to attract, select, motivate, and train talented employees to volunteer for and remain in such service.

Relatively little research has focused on the personality characteristics of mentors.

This paper aims to examine the impact of commodity price changes (crude oil, cocoa, coffee, cotton and gold) on the international market on development (development proxied by the human development index) (HDI) among emerging economies in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Empirical estimates verifying theorized relationships in question were performed using the two-step system generalized method of moments framework.

Results from the empirical estimates suggest that a percentage increase in the prices of crude oil, cocoa and gold in the world market have a significant positive influence on development among economies in the sub-region all things being equal; however, similar price changes in cotton and coffee showed a negative effect on development. Further empirical estimates suggest that the extent to which prices of key commodities such as crude oil, influence development in the sub-region benefit less from institutional variables such as government effectiveness, corruption control and political stability. The same institutional variables, however, were found to augment how changes in cocoa prices influence development among economies in the sub-region.

This study specifically examines the extent to which commodity price fluctuations impact a holistic measure of development, (HDI which inherently captures economic growth) among emerging economies such as those in the SSA region, and how such relationship may be moderated by conditions such as corruption control and government effectiveness. The review suggests that such a study is rare, did not find any specific empirical inquiry focusing on what this study is designed to accomplish. A major gap or deficit identified among most reviewed studies is the failure to verify how the surmised relationship between movements in prices of commodities traded on the international market and development is moderated by institutional factors such as corruption control, government effectiveness and political stability. This study specifically examines such interaction effects in its empirical analysis.

Examines the fifthteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

Examines the fifteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

Reports on investigations into the mechanism of sewing thread strength reduction. Results indicate that structural damage, namely, structural openness and pull‐out of fibre ends from the surface are the major cause of strength reduction and that the fibre strength reduction is found to be only marginal compared to the thread strength reduction. Cotton threads exhibit higher strength loss owing to their poor abrasion resistance. Comparatively shorter fibres in cotton threads are also found to be responsible for the higher strength reduction.

In this chapter, the title theme of “Disaster by Design” is explored and justified. Even from early times, the Aral Region was subject to alterations of natural conditions due to human intervention, often deliberate and designed. After the final conquest by Russia, the region became a fixed colony as part of the Soviet Union, ripe for exploitation characteristic of the Soviet approach to nature broadly and to stigmatized areas specifically. The Aral region was selected for irrigated cotton and other cultivation even though the consequences for desiccation of the sea, desertification, and salinization were understood. The decision was so calculated that even a cost–benefit analysis was offered to show that the Aral fishery was worth but a fraction of the cotton potential. The destruction of the region was made possible by a Soviet system of central planning and peripheral control. The brief glimmer of hope for the region evidenced during glasnost was the only moment where the Aral's fate was not sealed. The outcome is a model of ecological disaster by design, an environmental injustice, and an indication of the abusive nature of authoritarian power.